Esperanza Galindo Hijar, 95, of El Paso, TX, passed away on November 19, 2020; she was blessed to die at home with her daughters by her side. She was born in El Paso, TX, on January 16, 1925, and lived most of her life in El Paso. At various times in her young life, she lived in Los Angeles, CA, as well as in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. Esperanza returned to El Paso when she was in fourth grade, just in time to meet her future husband, Alfonso, at Morehead School. They both attended and graduated together from El Paso High School in 1943; together they attended their 50-year reunion. After Alfonso returned from World War II, they were married on August 20, 1949 at St. Patrick Cathedral, the same church where she had been baptized in 1925.
During WWII, she worked in the U.S. censorship office; many years later, she became a Spanish teacher with the EPISD in 1964 and retired in 1979. However, she was best at being a mother to Nora and Lisa. Esperanza was a homemaker who found time to sew clothes and prom dresses for her daughters and their dolls; she took them to piano lessons, dance classes, swimming classes, sewing classes. Espie was a room- mother at St. Pius X Catholic School, the school her daughters attended. She served as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader for many years at St. Pius X Catholic School. In 1965, Esperanza was honored with the highest award given in Catholic Girl Scouting; the Catholic Diocese presented her with the Saint Anne Catholic Adult Leader Award for her extraordinary service with the Girl Scouts. Esperanza was active with the St. Pius X Church Council where she served many times as secretary and treasurer; she organized the PTA ladies to offer enchilada dinners on Fridays during Lent. She was a champion at making menudo, as well as creating delicious jello molds, and appetizing deviled eggs. Through the years, Espie had many hobbies and interests: Bible study groups with her friends, knitting, crochet. Many of her nieces and nephews have Nativity scenes that she crocheted, as well as beautiful afghans that she knitted. There were no crafts that she wasn’t willing to try.
Esperanza was active in social, community, and church service. Throughout her life she served as recording secretary to the Diocese of El Paso, as well as to the St. Patrick Altar society, where she is a life member. Together with other members of the Altar Society, she crocheted blankets and caps for infants, and for many years volunteered with Meals on Wheels. She was an active member of The Elks Lodge and LULAC.
After taking their daughters on road-trips to Disneyland and Mexico City - not counting the numerous family camping expeditions around the state of New Mexico, she and Alfonso took a road-trip to New York and Niagara Falls. They traveled to Switzerland. With two of her sisters and her daughter, Lisa, Esperanza went to Europe; she and Lisa walked on the Great Wall of China; she went on a cruise to Alaska and experienced the sight of a glacier. In later years, she took trips to Austin to visit Nora and her family, especially her great-grandchildren Elise and Noah. In Houston, Esperanza visited Lisa, her family, and great-grandchildren, Cinco and Lily. There was always time to include visits with nieces and nephews living in both cities.
Esperanza taught her daughters, nephews, nieces to play Canasta, Progressive Rummy, Mexican Train Dominoes, Rummikub, and Mah Jongg. In order to be in her family, you had to be able to play. When Espie taught these games to her grandsons, she expected them to concentrate and be competitive; she never just let them win. We all have memories of great fun “playing to win.” Her home was always open for family to come by, eat, and play games. She loved a party and never missed an opportunity to jump up and dance.
She was a gracious, classy lady: impeccable in her habits, kind, generous, supportive, prayerful. Esperanza was a role model to more of us than she could have imagined; she led by example. One of her favorite songs is Cielito Lindo......” canta y no llores.” It was her mantra; she truly did walk the talk.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughters Nora Hijar (Rene Hurtado) and Melissa Poindexter (Al Poindexter), along with her grandchildren: Jason Melero (Amber), Aaron Hernandez, Nicole Poindexter, and Alfred Poindexter (Silvania). Esperanza was greatly loved by her great-grandchildren: Elise Melissa Melero, Noah Aaron Melero, Alfred Poindexter V (Cinco), and Lily Poindexter. Esperanza is survived by her sisters: Lilia Diaz and Bertha Sanchez, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.
She is preceded in death by Alfonso Hijar, her husband of 49 years, as well as her parents (Gaspar Galindo and Maria Teresa Ramos Galindo), sisters (Catalina Garcia, Maria Teresa Carson, Blanca Bachtold, and Josephine Galindo), brother (Gaspar Galindo), nieces (Deborah Provencio, Estella Welsh, and Elizabeth Lorraine Valencia), nephews (Ernest Diaz, Richard Carson), and Victor Wilcox). She is, as well, preceded by her dearest and life-long friends, the Golden Girls (Margaret Lopez, Delia Delgadillo, Hortensia Vela, Elia Licon, Emma Mora).
Thank you to Cecilia Rios and Juanita Diaz who not only took care of Esperanza, but also truly cared for her.
Thank you, Melissa Poindexter for your diligence, generosity and love. You are an extraordinary daughter and sister.
Her interment will take place on Wednesday, December 9, at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
